Rectifier Regulator Diagnosis Question

[bikpaintr]

other thing is that the mosfet doesn't get bloody hot. it just stays cold or slightly warm (in the summerheat) which will extend the life of the regulator.

Maybe, maybe not. The standard rectifier is designed to run hot as that is how it sheds the excess voltage. As I said in another thread the only failures I've seen in years have been caused by connectors melting & shorting out the rectifier not by the rectifier running hot. The conventional rectifier in my Futura is now 7+? years old & working fine. It's been through several 4 week trips out west with temps hitting over 100*F day after day which included long waits in construction zones and it still keeps charging.

[deefred]

Well in that case I can add my failed OEM R/R which suddenly gave me starting problems during a vacation.
As long as the lights were off I got a slight charge but with light ON it was draining the battery hence starting problem.
No damage to any connectors as I had previously soldered them.
Bike had about 40.000km with this OEM R/R and It had spent its life in northern cold europe

Now I´m on the second year of MOSFET R/R testing in hottest town of Europe (Sevilla, Spain)
Also has a battery bug visible to monitor the charging levels.
Live and learn.

Triumph went from SCR R/R to Mosfet and I´m sure it was not to save money in purchase price they did that.
They had severe problems with failing R/R´s.

[RAS]

My OE died a couple years ago. It would be fine for about 10 miles or so, but when it got good and hot, the charge voltage would start to drop. Nuthin lasts forever

[bikpaintr]

Nuthin lasts forever

Exactly my point. Lets see how many years the Mosfet rectifier lasts before we say that it is better. It doesn't charge any better so you better see a longer life for the extra $$.

[deefred]

In my case the mosfet charges better than the OE. Values are both higher and more stable over the rpm.
No changes were made except for changing the R/R.

When my first R/R failed I installed another OE R/R and that one charged about the same as the first one when it was healthy.

For electrical components they usually say that if you reduce the temperature with 10 Degrees the life will double.

[bikpaintr]

Comparing the Mosfet to the OE piece of crap rectifier doesn't mean much. Every positive you mentioned comparing the Mosfet vs OE also applies to the standard 40A rectifier I sell. The OE rectifier dropped voltage as the revs went up, not a desirable trait. Any decent rectifier will give you a stable charge rate. Keep in mind that the Mosfet is still mounted in the same hot hell hole on the Futura. The standard style rectifier is designed to be hot, the Mosfet is not. Time will tell how well it holds up on the Futura. As I said before my standard rectifier is going on 8 years old so how long will the Mosfet have to last to justify the extra expense?

[deefred]

Exactly my point. Lets see how many years the Mosfet rectifier lasts before we say that it is better. It doesn't charge any better so you better see a longer life for the extra $$.

You didn´t specify that it was compared to "your" R/R it did not charge better.
Compared to the OE unit it does!

[bikpaintr]

You didn´t specify that it was compared to "your" R/R it did not charge better.
Compared to the OE unit it does!

No argument there but as I said so does every decent rectifier out there.

[deefred]

So what is your answer to why several manufacturers are now installing Mosfet R/R instead of the old style SCR?
As you said they are not cheaper and does not charge any better either.

[bikpaintr]

I guess you'd have to ask the manufacturers that question. The Mosfet rectifiers haven't been around long enough to determine long range durability & you & I have no idea what a bike company pays for them. I know from talking to Rick that he didn't feel they offered any real benefit over the standard 40a rectifier he sells but if there is a demand for a product he'd be a fool not to offer it.

As previously mentioned I'm comparing the Mosfet to a good 40A aftermarket rectifier not the crap rectifiers a few manufacturers like Aprilia were buying/installing.

[maro6613]

Quick diversion from your back-and-forth, bikepaintr and deefred.

I installed the new RR today, a used FH010 like I said. I also bought a set of connectors for it so I could do everything up right.

Additionally, I added two extra 12g ground wires from the RR negative to the left side engine ground. I figure this is a better solution than wiring the extra ground directly to the battery - this way, if the main engine ground to the battery becomes disconnected, the bike won't try to send all the extra current for starting/running through the wires I added - the bike simply won't run.

Voltages:
Bike off: 12.99V
Idle: 14.15V
4000RPM: 14.25V



The reading varied no more than 0.03V for each. Much more stable than my old (dying/dead) RR was. Pleased so far, I have an 800 mile trip coming up on Saturday / Sunday so I'll update everyone after that. Here's to hoping I make it back!

Now then, carry on!

[deefred]

Maybe, maybe not. The standard rectifier is designed to run hot as that is how it sheds the excess voltage. As I said in another thread the only failures I've seen in years have been caused by connectors melting & shorting out the rectifier not by the rectifier running hot. The conventional rectifier in my Futura is now 7+? years old & working fine. It's been through several 4 week trips out west with temps hitting over 100*F day after day which included long waits in construction zones and it still keeps charging.

Well, It didn´t take too much of searching to find at least one of your R/R:s which failed without burnt connectors.

See here

[bikpaintr]

No telling what caused that one to fail since I didn't have the bike in my shop. When there is a complete meltdown like that there is usually a very good reason. That would have been an early 30A rectifier probably sold in late 2006 and as I said since the rectifiers were upgraded to 40a internals (4-5 years ago?) I haven't seen any failures without an obvious external cause such as a connector melting & shorting the unit which will kill any rectifier. Had a couple complaints of high charge rates & each time the rectifier tested fine & the cause was found to be a bad ground.

[RAS]

That shift lever's gotta be tough on your boot. At least slide some Tygon tubing or something over the bolt.

[Stanleybobly]

Well in that case I can add my failed OEM R/R which suddenly gave me starting problems during a vacation.
As long as the lights were off I got a slight charge but with light ON it was draining the battery hence starting problem.
No damage to any connectors as I had previously soldered them.
Bike had about 40.000km with this OEM R/R and It had spent its life in northern cold europe

Now I´m on the second year of MOSFET R/R testing in hottest town of Europe (Sevilla, Spain)
Also has a battery bug visible to monitor the charging levels.
Live and learn.

Triumph went from SCR R/R to Mosfet and I´m sure it was not to save money in purchase price they did that.
They had severe problems with failing R/R´s.

I am on my second year, (was the first one with it)
still going strong

even the new BMW S1000RR uses FH012 mosfet rectifier